Seven school-led projects first to receive funding from SHINE Sunderland

Seven Sunderland school projects are the first to benefit from a major new fund aimed at unlocking the potential of every child in the city, securing a share of more than £900,000.

SHINE Sunderland, a 10-year initiative backed by over £11 million from donors, is dedicated to improving GCSE attainment and expanding future opportunities for students.

Led by the education charity SHINE, the programme unites philanthropists, skilled teachers, and local partners to tackle barriers to student success.

In the first round of funding, grants have been awarded to:

• Aspire North East Multi Academy Trust – £111,380 for True Self, a wellbeing programme.
• Biddick Academy – £172,183 for Fluency First, a reading initiative for children in the first three years of secondary school.
• Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust – £114,538 for Accompaniment, supporting the transition from primary to secondary school.
• Northern Education Trust – £60,900 for Improving Literacy in the Classroom in Sunderland, enhancing literacy teaching.
• Sandhill View Academy – £141,251 for ASPIRE – The Guiding Principles of Character, fostering resilience, ambition, and strong values.
• Southmoor Academy – £164,980 for Roots to Writing, which aims to boost GCSE English attainment.
• Thornhill Academy – £136,960 for Celebrating Diverse Sunderland, to focus on developing strong community cohesion, addressing barriers to participation and developing strong learning patterns to support effective transitions between primary and secondary.

These projects mark the beginning of a transformative effort to support students across Sunderland, equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed at school and in their future lives.

The grants follow a major study commissioned by SHINE and conducted by the University of Sunderland, which highlights the need for greater support to help secondary school students reach their full potential.

Published in December, the study found that attainment at the end of primary school is a key predictor of GCSE performance. It also found a range of areas where additional support for students could make a positive difference to their opportunities at school and beyond.

Schools were asked to put develop projects that would help improve attainment across the city.

A second round of Sunderland projects will receive funding later this year, with additional initiatives introduced and supported over the coming decade.

SHINE’s CEO Fiona Spellman said: “Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter their background.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, through SHINE Sunderland, we are investing in projects that will break down barriers, raise aspirations, and give students the support they need to succeed.

“Schools across Sunderland have created some amazing, impactful projects, which we are proud to fund.

“This is just the beginning of an exciting journey to transform lives across the city. We can’t wait to see what can be achieved.”